Page 176 of His Darkest Desire

“This one said nothing.”

“Thanks only to Echo,” Shade said, hovering close to Hope.

Brow furrowing, Kinsley looked at Vex. “Get what set up?”

He met her gaze and brushed the back of a claw down her cheek. “You shall see.”

Vex lifted Hope out of Kinsley’s arms. She reached for his hair again, but he intercepted her hand with a finger, which she grasped and tugged toward her mouth. He bent it before his claw could come anywhere near her face. “As for you, little one…”

He carried her to Kinsley’s parents, staring down at her the whole way, and paused there. It seemed more words had formed behind his lips, but he did not let them out. He simply looked at their daughter with such wholehearted, unconditional love.

“Now that we’ve come to it, I cannot help but hesitate,” he said, voice low and rough.

Kinsley walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come to what, Vex?”

Emily smiled. “Vex asked us to watch Hope for the night.”

Eyes flaring and panic sparking in her chest, Kinsely looked between Vex and her parents. “For the night?”

“Ah, love.” Her mother stepped closer and cradled Kinsley’s cheeks. “It’s natural to feel this way when parting from your baby, especially for the first time. But it’s healthy for you and Vex to have some time to yourselves. To simply be husband and wife. Or, er…mates?”

“These ones will remain also,” Echo said.

“She’ll be safe.” Aiden held his arms out for Hope. “We promise.”

Kinsley watched as Vex passed their daughter to him. “But what if she cries?”

“We’ll soothe her,” Emily said, stepping back.

“What if she gets hungry?”

“You pumped plenty of milk to last her until tomorrow.”

“What if—”

Vex caught Kinsley’s chin, tipped her face up toward him, and slipped his other arm around her waist, drawing her body against his. “Should aught occur, the wisps will fetch us immediately.”

Kinsely released a slow exhalation, trying to calm herself as she flattened her hands on his chest. “We’ve never been away from her before.”

“Ah, my moonlight… I am just as frightened as you. Just as uncertain. But there is naught to keep us from her. No barriers, no curses. She will be doted upon here, loved and protected, and we will return for her ere dawn breaks over the glen.”

She searched his crimson and black eyes. Maybe she was being overprotective, maybe she was being irrational, but she could see her worries reflected in his gaze. They’d both known such loss in their lives, had both been so ravaged by their time apart, that letting go for even a little while was hard. So, so hard.

But hadn’t they weathered worse and come out stronger for it?

And she also saw yearning in Vex’s gaze, the same yearning burning deep her heart, calling out for him.

“It has been a while since we could just be…mates,” she said.

Madison scoffed. “Oh, would you two go fuck already?”

“Madison!” Emily snapped with the sort of ominous threat only mothers seemed able to evoke.

“What, mum? We’re all grown adults here.”

Aiden cleared his throat, nodding toward Hope.

“And one baby,” Maddy muttered. “Sorry.”

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